Senior Federal Facility Programmer / Space Planner - Mission Critical & Secure Facilities

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Job Description

AECOM is seeking an experienced Facility Programmer / Space Planner to support our national Mission Critical and Secure Facilities practice, leading programming, requirements development, and space planning for complex U.S. federal, Department of War, and Intelligence Community facilities. This is a remote position with limited travel as needed to attend meetings.

The ideal candidate may come from an interior design, architecture, workplace strategy, or facility planning background, but must demonstrate significant expertise in facility programming and space planning – not simply architectural design or project delivery. This role translates an organization's mission, personnel, workflows, workplace needs, technology, and security requirements into defensible facility programs and effective planning solutions.

The successful candidate will lead development of Programs of Requirements (PORs), Planning Charrette Reports (PCRs), space programs, adjacency studies, blocking and stacking concepts, and conceptual space plans for headquarters, command and operations centers, secure workplaces, intelligence environments, and other mission-critical facilities. The position requires strong federal programming expertise combined with an understanding of workplace planning, furniture and workstation standards, ergonomics, human experience, and multidisciplinary facility integration.

Key Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead facility programming, requirements development, and space planning for complex federal, DoW, Intelligence Community, mission-critical, and secure facility projects.
• Facilitate programming interviews, stakeholder workshops, visioning sessions, and planning charrettes to establish mission, operational, functional, workplace, technology, and security requirements.
• Develop Programs of Requirements (PORs), Planning Charrette Reports (PCRs), space programs, planning studies, and supporting requirements for DD Form 1391 and other federal programming processes.
• Apply federal and DoD programming criteria – including DAFMAN 32-1084, AR 405-70, FC 2-000-05N, applicable UFC criteria, and other agency-specific standards – to establish and validate facility requirements.
• Analyze organizational structures, personnel, mission functions, operational workflows, workplace and furniture standards, and functional relationships to develop quantitative space requirements and planning solutions.
• Develop adjacency diagrams, departmental planning concepts, blocking and stacking studies, space allocation strategies, and conceptual space plans that establish the basis for subsequent design.
• Integrate workplace planning, furniture and equipment planning, ergonomics, anthropometrics, accessibility, and human-centered design principles into facility requirements and planning solutions.
• Incorporate the planning implications of ICD 705, TEMPEST, Open Storage Secret (OSS), security zoning, access control, and other classified or controlled-environment requirements.
• Collaborate with clients, end users, security stakeholders, architects, engineers, interior designers, technology specialists, and other disciplines to validate requirements, achieve stakeholder consensus, and integrate the facility program into design.
• Develop and deliver client presentations, executive briefings, planning narratives, and recommendations, and support proposal development and strategic growth efforts for the practice.

To be fully proficient in this role, these skills/experience are essential:

• Demonstrated ability to translate organizational, operational, workplace, furniture/equipment, technology, and security requirements into quantitative space requirements and physical planning solutions.
• Experience developing facility programs, PORs or equivalent requirements documents, adjacency studies, blocking and stacking concepts, and conceptual space plans.
• Experience leading client interviews, programming workshops, planning charrettes, and stakeholder consensus-building activities.
• Working knowledge of federal and DoW facility programming processes and criteria and the ability to interpret and apply agency-specific planning standards.
• Strong understanding of workplace planning, furniture/workstation standards, ergonomics, anthropometrics, and human-centered planning principles.
• Strong facilitation, presentation, written communication, and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.

Qualifications

Required Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Interior Design, Architecture, Planning, or a related design or facility-planning discipline, plus 10+ years of professional experience including two years leadership, significant experience in facility programming and space planning for federal, DoW, Intelligence Community, or similarly complex facilities, or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education
• Professional registration or certification appropriate to the candidate's discipline, such as Registered Architect (RA), NCIDQ Certified Interior Designer, state Registered/Certified Interior Designer, or comparable professional credential.
• This position requires U.S. citizenship due to federal contract/security requirements.
• Ability and willingness to travel periodically in support of CONUS and OCONUS projects.
• Ability to pass drug, and background checks to work on Federal grounds, military installations, and school grounds.

Preferred

Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional experience, including 5+ years focused on federal facility programming, space planning, workplace strategy, or requirements development.
• Significant experience developing PORs and PCRs for DoW MILCON projects, including support of DD Form 1391 development.
• Experience applying programming criteria such as DAFMAN 32-1084, AR 405-70, FC 2-000-05N, UFC criteria, or comparable federal agency standards.
• Experience planning SCIF, SAPF, OSS, TEMPEST, secure operations, or other classified mission environments and working with government security stakeholders.
• Experience supporting federal projects in both CONUS and OCONUS locations.
• Familiarity with Autodesk Revit and other tools used to develop or communicate space planning concepts.
• Active U.S. Government security clearance, or demonstrated ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

Additional Information

• THIS POSITION IS FOR A CURRENT VACANCY, AND AECOM INTENDS TO FILL THIS POSITION BY JANUARY 8TH,2027.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM  

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options ,  well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan. 

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients’ complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com. 

What makes AECOM a great place to work  

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you’ll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you’ve always envisioned. Here, you’ll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community—where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.